Holiday Traditions!

We did many Christmas activities as a family that we don't have pictures of! These activities take a lot of preparation and I must admit wore me out many of the days, but for me they are what Christmas is all about. I want to thank my mom and Joseph's mom for teaching us about the Christmas spirit and helping us to have wonderful Christmas memories! It is because of you two that Christmas is both of our favorite time of the year! Below are a few of our favorite things at Christmas, we have enjoyed sharing the traditions we enjoyed as children with our kids!

*Christmas Caroling*
(this year we took the Living Christ to 6 non-member friends and
caroled to them with the missionaries! It was 20 below that
night, but we all had a really fun time!)

*Visiting the Rest Home*
(took cookies and sang songs to the older people at the rest home)

*Twelve Days of Christmas*
(something both Joseph and I did as children,
the kids had so much fun this year with it. They would
chant the Mission Impossible theme song and say they
were secret agents!)

*Making Christmas Breads and Candy and Delivering it to Friends*
(one night we delivered to 19 people! That was a long night,
but it is so great to let the wonderful friends we have know we
love them and are grateful for them)

*Took gifts to the Homeless Shelter*
(didn't turn out as well as planned, but still good for the kids)

*Sang songs around the piano*
(the kids asked for this nearly every night)

*read Christmas stories together*

*Act out the Nativity story Christmas Eve*

If I can go on a soap box for just one moment, I had many friends say I was crazy to try and do so many things this time of year and that they were just too busy for such things! That made me sad. I love Christmas more than any other time of the year and so does Joseph, but the gifts I get on Dec. 25th or even that day itself isn't really why I love it. I love it because for a few weeks people are nicer and think more of others than themselves! The spirit of Christmas really is the spirit of Christ. I had that instilled in me by my mom and I hope to carry on these traditions with my children so they will feel it too! Thanks once again Mom P. and Mom K. for teaching us what Christmas should really be all about! We love you!